Summary: Future Fic, Lane and Tristan are getting married. Rory is the reporter covering the wedding of the year, Lane and Tristan's. Seven years ago, Lane stole away Tristan from Rory. She never got her chance of revenge will it be her chance now or will she let her prince charming be gone forever to her ex-best friend?
Disclaimer: I don't own Gilmore Girls or any reference to Dawson's Creek. I only own the plot idea and any new characters created along the way, namely Larissa.
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My Ex-Best Friend's Wedding
By klm111a
O1: News, articles and getting drunk
September 2016:"He's getting married," Paris Gellar announces to her best friend and fellow roommate: Rory Gilmore who sits hunched over her computer working on her newest article, no doubt. "That's nice," the brunette murmurs in response not really paying attention to Paris despite her news. "Don't you want to know who?" she questions eagerly and Rory just sighs. Just leave me alone! Rory silently begs. She doesn't have time to talk; she was supposed to be at the New York Times office an hour ago but she hadn't finished her article that had the deadline of today at noon. "Paris, as much as I love you I'm late to work as it is. I don't have time to play your game of guess who's getting married and frankly I'm not really in the mood to hear about people's success in their lives," as Rory talks she's printed out her article, read it one more time, grabbed her to-go thermos of coffee, grabbed her bag and put on her jean jacket. "Bye," she says breathlessly rushing to the door and as she leaves the apartment Paris yells, "Tristan DuGrey is getting married to Lane Kim!" the door swings back open as an irritated Rory snatches the newspaper out of Paris's hands. "Oh. My. God." She murmurs pressing a hand to her mouth as the anger, and the pain, the regret too all came surfacing to the present time. She had tried so hard to forget about the two of them, and it had worked for a while but things like this kept on intruding on her life, would she ever be able to get over this? "You still have work," Paris reminds gently and she just nods in response. Her eyes, still riveted to the article, her mind reeling, she nods and then hurries out of the apartment her good mood evaporated. Tristan DuGrey, her ex-fiancé and Lane Kim, her ex-best friend were getting married what was a girl to do?
"Put the pen down," the lilting, British accented voice of the one and only Larissa Mayer better known as Liss to her friend's filled the room. "Liss!" Rory shrieked hopping out of her chair and rounding the corner of her desk to hug her best friend from Yale. "How you doing, Ror?" Liss questions glad to see her friend since her two weeks of vacation at home back in London. Rory sits back behind her desk as Larissa sits down in front of her. "Crazed as always. Did you hear the big news?"
"What big news? I got back from London last night I'm afraid current events weren't top priority,"
"Irene better not hear," Rory teases but then gets back to the subject on hand. "You're not even caught up on entertainment news?"
"You know how I can miss a single Entertainment Tonight, I almost died at home without it," Larissa laughs her charming laugh and Rory smiles, despite the bad news that morning she couldn't help but grin at her friend's antics she had missed her while she was away. "So, then I take it you have heard,"
"Rory, dear will you just spill it already? I have no idea what you're talking about so care to fill me in?" she says casting a worrisome glance at Rory. "Oh Liss! It's horrible," Rory moans. "Don't tell me," Larissa pauses and then closes her eyes. "You're pregnant," the two girls burst into a peal of laughter at the absurdity of the comment, at least yet. "Let's be serious now, Larissa," Rory says brusquely and now she's intrigued. Rory never referred to her as Larissa, only Liss. "Okay, what's going on, Ror," her concern for her friend obvious. Rory takes a deep breath as the tears threatened to fall. "Tristan is getting married. To Lane,"
"Oh sweetie!" Larissa leaned over Rory's desk and hugged her. "I don't see how it's fair. The girl who steals, the love of my life, my Dawson you could say is getting married, to him,"
"This must be huge in your life. You're referring to Dawson's Creek, you never do that,"
"No kidding,"
"So, does Lorelai know?"
"She must. She lives in Stars Hollow after all,"
"I thought Mrs. Kim was strict about non-Korean guys need not apply," Rory just rolls her eyes. "Well since we broke up, he became some brain surgeon, he's won a few Nobel Peace prizes. Plus, he convinced Lane to become a pediatrician,"
"How romantic," Larissa says dryly rolling her eyes. "You want to know the worse thing about the whole thing, Liss?" Larissa nods and Rory just sighs. "I'm still in love with him," she whispers as Larissa puts a consoling hand over Rory's. "I thought you got over him,"
"I thought I had. I haven't thought about him in the longest time. But I was supposed to be the one marrying him. I was the one who convinced him to become a brain surgeon. He promised me so many things," Larissa nods. "I know you're hurting right now but Irene wants you in her office. Tristan's a jerk, Lane shouldn't be marrying you if she was a real friend,"
"Could this day get any better?" she murmurs to herself as she crumbles the newspaper sitting on her desk ruining the picture of the happy couple. She feels a surge of relief course through her as she heads to her boss's office.
Rory's hands were shaking so badly she was worried that Irene, her boss would question her mental health something she wasn't ready to answer. Irene had set up this meeting to discuss her newest assignment. It had been a devastating blow for her. If this was an article about anything else, even sports she would be happy to do it but this was something she couldn't do. "You want me to write about Tristan DuGrey and Lane Kim's wedding?" Irene beams and nods her head. "This could be your chance, Lorelai. You could have your own column permanently,"
"I understand that but I can't do it,"
"I don't think your hearing me. This will be a pivotal turning point in your career. I'm not giving you a choice Miss Gilmore," she says coolly and Rory knows that it's better to just accept the job and get it done with. "Fine,"
"I'll be sending Larissa with you as your photographer and Paris has an assignment nearby. You'll be sent to Hartford in two days,"
"Thanks," Rory mutters stumbling out of the chair and hurrying out of the office. She sprints down the hall desperate to get away as she ignores the strange looks that everyone is shooting her way. Her head is spinning as she tries to grasp the concept of it all. She was going to have to interview her ex-best friend and ex-fiancé for their own wedding, a wedding that wasn't supposed to happen at all. She enters her office eyes wild. "Liss, cigarette," she hisses. "You don't smoke," Larissa points out with a shake of her head. "Do you really want to mess with me, here?" Larissa takes a hard look at Rory. Her hair is now a mess from running her hand through her hair a nervous habit picked up by Tristan himself. Rory's eyes were crazed and unlike the calm blue they normally were they were now a stormy gray. "What happened?"
"I'm doing an article on the wedding of the year," she laughs bitterly. "I don't know what to say,"
"You're coming too. You're my photographer," she says faking cheeriness. "Do you want to go somewhere to talk?"
"No. I'm sick of talking, sick of thinking things through I need to do something wild and crazy. Something unlike me, I want to get drunk,"
"Rory, let's not be rash here. You need to just get used to the idea of Lane and Tristan getting married,"
"I don't care anymore really, Liss I don't I just want to go out and do something. So, you in or not?"
"I'm in. See you at 8, your apartment?"
"That's good. Going to Harry's?"
"Would you expect any less?" with a grin from Rory, Larissa exits her office murmuring: "I hope you know what you're doing, Gilmore," and with that she was gone and Rory continued to answer the phone, trying so hard to forget about Lane and Tristan.
That Night, 8 PM:
"Hey Liss!" Rory greets brightly. "Ror," Larissa responds looking concerned at her friend. She watches Rory now stumble around trying to get her feet in her shoes. "Is Paris coming?"
"She'll be out in a minute," Rory slurs as Larissa puts a steadying arm on her. "Are you drunk already?"
"She's been downing wine coolers since she told me about her upcoming article," Paris tells Larissa softly as she comes out in the hall as well. "We shouldn't go out then," Larissa comments and Rory shoots her a glare. "We're going to have some fun!" Rory announces and then pauses, adding a comment as an afterthought. "Whether Larissa likes it or not," she links her arms with Larissa and Paris as they share a concerned look behind Rory's back. Ten minutes later the trio has arrived at their usual place and Rory rushes in heading to the bar immediately. "Keep an eye on her," Larissa whispers to Paris as the two fail to notice her hitting on a guy at the bar much to his bewilderment. A couple of seconds later Larissa and Paris are prying her away from the poor man despite her protestations. Three drinks later, Rory can barely think for herself any more but a charming man approaches her despite the drunken state Larissa had proclaimed Rory was in. "Hello, I'm Tristan O'Neill and you are…"
"Lorelai," she responds a giggle bubbling up in her throat as she grins. "I've been watching you all night," he whispers in her ear. "Really?" she pretends to act nonchalant which is indeed a feat for the intoxicated girl. She had noticed this man, Tristan, she reminded herself watching her the whole time. "Well I was and I was wondering if you'd like to go somewhere…." He trails off as he searches for the right word with Rory blatantly checking him out causing him to feel awkward. "How about somewhere more private?" she purrs. "Exactly what I was thinking," she looks up at him her eyes suddenly misty. "Great minds think alike, Tristan," he takes her hand and leads her out of the bar much to the dismay of Paris and Larissa.
(Flashback) September 2003 – Yale University
"Hello. I'm Tristan and you are…" a handsome blonde man with sparkling blue eyes question the somewhat shorter brunette standing next to him. "Not available," she offers offhand to him as she looks up at him. "Do you have a boyfriend?" he questions now curious. "Nope but there's no chance I'd date you,"
"And why is that?"
"You really do have a short term memory, DuGrey," with a shake of her head she leaves him but he follows her outside. "Mary!" he calls out his grin now wide. "How many times do I have to tell you its Rory!" she shouts back as she spins around and smiles back at him, now halfway across the parking lot. "See you around, Rory!" he yells and he can hear the wonderful laugh of Rory Gilmore as she waves at him and continues on her way. Not knowing what the future had in store for them.
- End Chapter One